Mango processing and packaging for fresh Alphonso follows six steps: hand harvest, grading by weight, natural ripening on hay beds, careful boxing, dispatch by Blue Dart and checking on arrival. We also sell Alphonso pulp, which is processed and packed in sealed tins.
To order, browse Ratnagiri Alphonso collection.
Mango processing and packaging, step by step
People search for mango processing and packaging for different reasons. Some want to know how fresh fruit reaches them in good shape. Others want to know how pulp is made or how to pack mangoes for sending. This page covers all three, from our side as a seller. We are Powle Home Foods in Mumbai, and we run AlphonsoMango.in.
| Step | What happens | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Harvest | Hand-cut with a zela pole and catching net | Fruit is not dropped or shaken down |
| 2. Grading | Sorted by weight | Same-size fruit packs evenly |
| 3. Ripening | Natural ripening on hay beds | Soft, even ripening without forcing |
| 4. Packing | Partitioned corrugated box, foam-net sleeves | Protects skin and shoulders in transit |
| 5. Dispatch | Blue Dart courier | Moves the box to your PIN code |
| 6. Arrival | You open the box and check | Damage is reported within 24 hours |
Our fruit is sourced across 48 villages of the Ratnagiri and Devgad belt on the Konkan coast. Ratnagiri and Devgad Alphonso are the same variety, so we do not rank one above the other.
Harvest: why the fruit is not shaken down
Our fruit is hand-harvested with a zela pole fitted with a catching net. The pole cuts the stalk and the net holds the mango as it comes away. The tree is not shaken, and the fruit does not hit the ground. This matters because bruising from a fall may only show after ripening, when nothing can be done about it.
Mature Alphonso leaves the tree firm. It then needs several days to soften. Wikipedia puts the time from harvest to ripening of Alphonso at about 15 days, which is why rushing the later steps shows in the taste. Alphonso fruit generally weighs 150 to 300 g, and the pulp is described as rich, creamy and non-fibrous.
Grading by weight, and the hidden flaw
Every grade of Alphonso is sorted by weight. Same-grade fruit packs evenly in a partitioned box, while mixed sizes shift during travel. The weight range decides how many mangoes fit and what the dozen costs. A dozen weighs roughly 1.8 to 3.3 kg depending on grade. Ratnagiri and Devgad Alphonso start from Rs 1,849 per dozen, and larger grades cost more. Check the product page for today's price.
Some defects cannot be seen from outside. Alphonso can develop spongy tissue, an internal flesh disorder. ICAR-IIHR research traced it to the seed shifting into germination mode at about 60% fruit maturity. A mango with clean skin can still be affected, which is why buyers should choose a seller who answers questions about quality and responds if a box has a problem.
Ripening on hay, not with carbide
We do not use carbide. Our Alphonso mangoes are ripened naturally on hay beds. Hay beds hold the fruit gently while it ripens by itself over several days. Calcium carbide is prohibited for ripening fruit in India under Regulation 2.3.5 of the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales) Regulations, 2011. Ethylene up to 100 ppm is the permitted alternative. We are an FSSAI-licensed seller, and our details are on the AlphonsoMango.in brand facts.
No single look or smell proves how a mango was ripened, and a bucket-of-water test is only a rough clue, not proof. Ask any seller how the fruit was ripened. Our guide to spotting carbide-ripened mangoes explains what to ask.
Packaging: what the box is for
A mango box has to do three jobs: stop the fruit from rubbing, spread the pressure, and let air through. Our boxes use a 5-ply corrugated fibreboard shell with a partition inside, so the partition carries the weight of the load above and the fruit does not. Each mango sits in a foam-net sleeve on a hay bed. The sleeve cushions the skin, and the net lets air move so moisture does not collect around the fruit. Air holes in the box add to the airflow.
If you pack mangoes yourself to send to a friend, the same ideas apply:
- Use a firm box with a divider, not a soft bag.
- Wrap each mango on its own so skins do not rub.
- Leave air gaps and do not seal the fruit in plastic.
- Choose fruit that is firm, not already soft.
International shipments carry extra rules, which are in our guide to how to export mango from India.
Dispatch and arrival
We dispatch by Blue Dart, and about 65% of Indian PIN codes get next-day delivery. Check your PIN code at checkout. We do not promise a delivery day for any named city, because timing depends on the PIN code and the courier route. Open the box on arrival and check the fruit. If anything is damaged, report it within 24 hours of delivery to support@alphonsomango.in or on 8369048029.
Alphonso is harvested about February to June, and the best supply runs from March to May. The 2027 season opens on 1 February 2027. Outside the season we do not sell fresh Alphonso. Once the box is home, keep the fruit at room temperature, away from direct sun, and let it soften on its own. Do not refrigerate unripe fruit, because cold slows ripening and can dull the flavour. Our guide on how to ripen Alphonso mangoes at home has the timing.
Processed mango: how pulp is made and packed
Not all mango is eaten fresh. According to APEDA, mango pulp is sterilised and packed in aseptic bags or in hermetically sealed cans, and the pulp can be made from varieties such as Alphonso, Totapuri, Neelum and Kesar. This process lets the flavour last far beyond the fresh season.
Our ready-to-use Alphonso pulp comes in 850 g and 3.1 kg sizes from Rs 590 and is available all year. See our explanation of the difference between pulp and puree and our how to make mango pulp at home if you want to process fruit yourself.
See also: Export packing services for mangoes
People also ask
What is the best way to pack mangoes for delivery?
Use a firm box with dividers, wrap each mango separately so skins do not rub, and leave air gaps. Choose fruit that is firm rather than already soft. Our boxes use a 5-ply corrugated shell with a partition and foam-net sleeves, so the box carries the load and the fruit does not.
How is mango pulp processed and packed?
According to APEDA, mango pulp is sterilised and packed in aseptic bags or in hermetically sealed cans. Alphonso, Totapuri, Neelum and Kesar are among the varieties used. Our Alphonso mango pulp tins come in 850 g and 3.1 kg sizes from Rs 590 and are available all year.
How many mangoes are in 1 kg?
It depends on the variety and grade. Alphonso fruit generally weighs 150 to 300 g, so a kilo holds roughly three to six mangoes. We sell Alphonso by the dozen, and a dozen weighs roughly 1.8 to 3.3 kg depending on grade. Check the product page for the grade you want.
How do you stop mangoes bruising in transit?
Harvest by hand without dropping the fruit, sort by weight so sizes match, and pack in a partitioned box with a cushion around each mango. We hand-harvest with a zela pole fitted with a catching net. Open the box on arrival and report damage within 24 hours of delivery.
Related searches
- How to ripen Alphonso mangoes at home
- Identify carbide-free mangoes online
- Harvesting Alphonso mangoes
- How to export mango from India
- Difference between pulp and puree
- Freeze mango for later
- Alphonso mango pulp tin
Sources and further reading
- Wikipedia, Alphonso mango.
- APEDA, Mango Pulp.
- Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales) Regulations, 2011, Regulation 2.3.5 (compendium version of 2 April 2025).
- Geographical Indications Registry of India, public search record for application 379, Devgad Alphonso Mango (merged with application 139), accessed October 2026.
Written by Prashant Powle, founder of AlphonsoMango.in. Last reviewed October 2026.
